How many rounds do you feel comfortable with in your carry gun

[george burns]

Since I haven't seen anyone ask this question, and we have so many different ideas about how much is enough, I thought perhaps it needed to be aired out. You can say why you feel this way or not. Same goes for calibers, no need to justify what caliber you carry, just what it is and how many rounds your gun takes "which most of us will know by the model", and if you carry a spare mag or loader.

 

[Onmilo]

At LEAST one and as always, the more, the merrier

 

[herrwalther]

6+1 is the lowest capacity I have ever had for a primary carry gun.

 

[TarDevil]

7 + 1 in my current carry gun with spare 9 round magazine. I felt better with my previous 10 + 1 and spare 17 round magazine.

Reality is, the spares are really just an extra mag should the first go bad.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Six is the lowest round count I've had in a carry gun - a revolver - and 7+1 in pistols(1911's). For me, it's not so much the capacity in the gun as how much I carry in reserve, and keeping track of how many rounds I have left in the gun once the shooting starts. For comfort, between the primary carry and the back-up(in the same caliber), I feel comfortable with the 44 rounds of ammo. (Once in a great while I carry an ankle gun as well with a total of 6+1 in the gun and 28 rounds in four 7 round capacity spare mags.)

Woody

 

[bikerdoc]

8+1 in 1911 with spare mags (2)
5 and a speed loader for the SP101

 

[Warp]

Since I haven't seen anyone ask this question, and we have so many different ideas about how much is enough, I thought perhaps it needed to be aired out. You can say why you feel this way or not. Same goes for calibers, no need to justify what caliber you carry, just what it is and how many rounds your gun takes "which most of us will know by the model", and if you carry a spare mag or loader.

This assumes a service cartridge (.38pl +P or 9x19 or above) loaded with proper ammo.

5-6 rounds = probably okay but consciously aware of not having much in the gun (revolvers) and always carry speed strip or loader
11 rounds = feel pretty good (G26)(smallest primary carry gun I have or have had)
16 rounds = feel confident (G19)
Spare mag: Sometimes, usually not around town, yes if going into a city or if my 'terror level' color is elevated or whatever

 

[urbaneruralite]

Five, six or seven. If I feel the need for more I carry an extra gun or just avoid the situation.

 

[tahoe2]

9mm ; 8+1 and at least one more mag (sometimes 2) with 8 rnds.
I make it a point, not to travel in the seedy parts of town, and advise family members to do the same.
I realize sometimes things just happen, but situational awareness is paramount to survival, and in this day and age, we all know this to be true.

 

[Green Parrot]

When I could carry, the minimum I carried was six.

 

[Racinfan83]

6 +1 .40cal in my CC gun and I'm fine with that... Usually don't carry a spare unless going into a bad area.

 

[Old Fuff]

What ever it will hold, usually 5 or 6 rounds.

 

[Pete D.]

Rounds

Glock 36....six in the magazine. Sometimes I carry a second magazine. Not always.
Pete

 

[DeepSouth]

I carry a PM45 filled up with 6 rounds, I would feel perfectly adequate with a 5 shot revolver. Honestly if you didn't have to cock derringers I'd feel fine haveing 2 shots. I really feel like if you need more than about 3 your probably screwed anyway, but like others have said, the more the merrier.

 

[JohnBiltz]

10-12 rounds. More than that I don't think you would have a chance of shooting in a close up self defense encounter before becoming overcome by events if they keep coming. Less than that could make an encounter with 2 or more determined attackers problematical.

 

[Red Wind]

Another Glock 36 .45 ACP 6+1, one backup 6 round magazine.

Occasionally a Smith 340PD .357 Magnum snubby revolver 5 rounds, one Bianchi clip (wallet) 6 round backup.

 

[19-3Ben]

Since I haven't seen anyone ask this question,

If you search it up, you'll see it is actually asked every so often.

For me, I'm ok with my five-shot LCR, but I do prefer more. Even then, the highest capacity pistol I own is 8+1 in my 1911.

 

[stonecutter2]

5 or more.

 

[Cee Zee]

So I'm not supposed to say I don't want to be killed for lack of shooting back?

XDm .40 (16+1)
4 extra mags in the car
I carry 2 extra mags on me

No way I'll ever need it but if I'm wrong... Mags are cheap. Why not? And I really don't ever expect to need all those mags. But there are riot situations and just since yesterday the odds of that happening have increased. But the plain truth is I just like to buy gun stuff so I end up buying a lot of mags.

 

[Thermactor]

I'm truly uncomfortable with anything less than 40 rounds. Never know when I'll be attacked by a mob of vicious paper targets or steel gongs.

 

[230RN]

I usually carry two guns, like Constitution Cowboy, on the theory that a loaded second gun is the fastest kind of reload there is.

Gun 1: 5-shot laser-sighted .38 J-frame in coat or pants pocket for instant access. Two spare speedloaders, but they're usually left in the car.

Gun 2: 7 + 1 9mm semiauto on belt in crossdraw position with one extra 7-rd mag in coat or vest pocket. Looking for a laser sight for it and an appropriate holster with the laser attached.

So 20 rd total on me. Thirty if you count the two speedloaders in the car.

This arrangement results in the topsy-turvy situation such that my main carry is a J-frame and my "backup" gun is a semiauto.

If I'm going to some kind of dressy affair, I'll use an ankle holster with a Detective Special and no extra rounds. So 6 on those occasions.

Terry, 230RN

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Just a reminder for some of you: Sometimes elements from the seedy parts and bad parts of town come avisitin' unannounced, and sometimes situations do the same thing, and terror can reach levels never predicted in an instant.

NEVER be less than 'comfortable', prepared, and determined to survive.

Woody

 

[HexHead]

5. But they're typically .44.

 

[we are not amused]

Six plus one is what I generally carry with two spare Mags, one of which is an extended mag with nine rounds.

 

[Downeast]

S&W Shield in 9mm, 8+1 and a spare 8 rd mag